Bert Trueman
Encyclopedia
Albert Henry Trueman was an English footballer who played as a half-back
for various clubs in the early twentieth century.
and educated at Holy Trinity School, from where he was selected to represent Leicestershire Schools. After spells with various local clubs, including Hinckley Town, playing in the Midland League
, and Coalville Town
of the Leicestershire Senior League
, in August 1905 he joined Leicester Fosse of the Football League Second Division
as cover for Bob Pollock who had been the regular left-half since 1902. In his three seasons with the Filbert Street
club, Trueman made 47 first-team appearances, scoring three goals, before a move in May 1908 to the south coast
to join Southampton
of the Southern League
.
He was recruited by the "Saints" as replacement for the former England international Harry Hadley
who had just retired from professional football. Despite being considered too small to be a half-back, Trueman soon proved that his judgement and skill made up for his lack of height and he showed himself to be "quick, resourceful and decisive in action (who was) overall a most difficult obstacle for opposing forwards". His debut came on 7 September 1908 in a 4–1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion
, when Frank Jefferis
scored a hat-trick
. He soon became established at left-half, alongside Frank Thorpe
or Sam Jepp
in the centre and John Johnston
on the right, although Trueman was able to play in any of the half-back positions. In the 1908–09 season, Trueman made 31 league appearances, with Southampton finishing third in the table, having led the table until a run of injuries to key players such as Thorpe and Jefferis in mid-season disrupted the side.
A series of injuries resulted in Trueman missing large parts of the 1909–10 season, when he was usually replaced by Jack Robertson
, but returned to full fitness for the following season. He made a four appearances for the Southern League and scored the winning goal against the Football League
in November 1910, giving the Southern League a clean-sweep of that season's Inter-League Tournament; he was also given a trial for the England national side. Soon afterwards, Trueman grew restless at The Dell and in March 1911 was allowed to return to the Football League with Sheffield United
.
At Bramall Lane
, he displaced the England
international Albert Sturgess
at left-half, with Sturgess moving to the right. Trueman remained with the "Blades" until the summer of 1913, before finishing his career with Darlington
in the North Eastern League
.
In September 1916, Trueman was visiting Filbert Street
when he was persuaded to turn out for Leicester in a war-time game against Grimsby Town
as the home team were short of players.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for various clubs in the early twentieth century.
Football career
Trueman was born in LeicesterLeicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
and educated at Holy Trinity School, from where he was selected to represent Leicestershire Schools. After spells with various local clubs, including Hinckley Town, playing in the Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
, and Coalville Town
Coalville Town F.C.
Coalville Town Football Club is a football club based in Coalville, Leicestershire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South.-History:...
of the Leicestershire Senior League
Leicestershire Senior League
The Leicestershire Senior League is a football competition based in Leicestershire, England.-History:...
, in August 1905 he joined Leicester Fosse of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
as cover for Bob Pollock who had been the regular left-half since 1902. In his three seasons with the Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
club, Trueman made 47 first-team appearances, scoring three goals, before a move in May 1908 to the south coast
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
He was recruited by the "Saints" as replacement for the former England international Harry Hadley
Harry Hadley
Harold Hadley was an English professional footballer and football manager. He played once for the England national side.-Playing career:...
who had just retired from professional football. Despite being considered too small to be a half-back, Trueman soon proved that his judgement and skill made up for his lack of height and he showed himself to be "quick, resourceful and decisive in action (who was) overall a most difficult obstacle for opposing forwards". His debut came on 7 September 1908 in a 4–1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, when Frank Jefferis
Frank Jefferis
Frank Jefferis was a football player.-Playing career:He initially played football for his local non-league team, Fordingbridge Turks, before being invited for a trial at The Dell by Southampton of the Southern League in March 1905...
scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
. He soon became established at left-half, alongside Frank Thorpe
Frank Thorpe
Frank Thorpe was an English footballer who played as a centre-half for various clubs in the 1900s, including Southampton and Bury, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1903.-Playing career:...
or Sam Jepp
Sam Jepp
Samuel Richard "Sam" Jepp was an English professional footballer who played in various defence positions for Southampton and Swansea Town in the early twentieth century.-Football career:...
in the centre and John Johnston
John Johnston (footballer)
John Shand Johnston was a Scottish footballer who played as a wing half and won the FA Cup with Bury in 1903.-Playing career:Johnston was born in Lennoxtown and started his career with Stalybridge Rovers before joining Football League First Division Bury in May 1901, shortly followed by his former...
on the right, although Trueman was able to play in any of the half-back positions. In the 1908–09 season, Trueman made 31 league appearances, with Southampton finishing third in the table, having led the table until a run of injuries to key players such as Thorpe and Jefferis in mid-season disrupted the side.
A series of injuries resulted in Trueman missing large parts of the 1909–10 season, when he was usually replaced by Jack Robertson
John Nicol Robertson
John Nicol Robertson was a Scottish professional footballer who played at half-back for various clubs in the early 20th century, spending most of his career with Southampton.-Football career:...
, but returned to full fitness for the following season. He made a four appearances for the Southern League and scored the winning goal against the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in November 1910, giving the Southern League a clean-sweep of that season's Inter-League Tournament; he was also given a trial for the England national side. Soon afterwards, Trueman grew restless at The Dell and in March 1911 was allowed to return to the Football League with Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
.
At Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, he displaced the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Albert Sturgess
Albert Sturgess
Albert Sturgess was a footballer who played for Sheffield United and England.-Club career:...
at left-half, with Sturgess moving to the right. Trueman remained with the "Blades" until the summer of 1913, before finishing his career with Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
in the North Eastern League
North Eastern League
The North Eastern League was a football league for teams in the North East of England.The league was founded in 1906 and was initially successful, with teams defecting from the rival Northern Football Alliance to play...
.
In September 1916, Trueman was visiting Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
when he was persuaded to turn out for Leicester in a war-time game against Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
as the home team were short of players.